Question:

Delete all files containing special characters

#!/bin/bash

# badname.sh

# Delete filenames in current directory containing bad characters.

for filename in *

do

badname=`echo "$filename" | sed -n /[\+\{\;\"\\\=\?~\(\)\<\>\&\*\|\$]/p`

# badname=`echo "$filename" | sed -n '/[+{;"\=?~()<>&*|$]/p'` also works.

# Deletes files containing these nasties: + { ; " \ = ? ~ ( ) < > & * | $

#

rm $badname 2>/dev/null

# ^^^^^^^^^^^ Error messages deep-sixed.

done

# Now, take care of files containing all manner of whitespace.

find . -name "* *" -exec rm -f {} \;

# The path name of the file that "find" finds replaces the "{}".

# The '\' ensures that the ';' is interpreted literally, as end of command.

exit 0

#---------------------------------------------------------------------

# Commands below this line will not execute because of "exit" command.

# An alternative to the above script:

find . -name '*[+{;"\\=?~()<>&*|$ ]*' -exec rm -f '{}' \;

# (Thanks, S.C.)